Taylor Swift tells fans in an emotional letter that her mother has cancer

Taylor Swift announced to her fans on Thursday that her mother, Andrea Swift, has cancer. The singer is keeping details about her mom’s treatment plan and condition private.

She urges fans to help their busy parents stay on top of their health.

“I’m writing to you with an update I wish I wasn’t giving you, but it’s important and I’m used to sharing important events in my life with you,” Swift writes at the beginning of a letter posted to her Tumblr page.

She tells fans that usually when things happen in her life she takes time to process them and write music about her feelings. But this is “something my family and I thought you should know about now.”

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She says that for Christmas she asked her mom to have her health checked, a gift from mother to daughter.

“There were no red flags and she felt perfectly fine, but she did it just to get me and my brother off her case about it,” Swift writes.

“The results came in, and I’m saddened to tell you that my mom has been diagnosed with cancer. I’d like to keep the details of her condition and treatment plans private, but she wanted you to know.

“She wanted you to know because your parents may be too busy juggling everything they’ve got going on to go to the doctor, and maybe you reminding them to go get checked for cancer could possibly lead to an early diagnosis and an easier battle…

“Or peace of mind in knowing that they’re healthy and there’s nothing to worry about. She wanted you to know why she may not be at as many shows this tour. She’s got an important battle to fight.”

She ends the note by saying: “I hope and pray that you never get news like this.”